Improvement in seal-locks



R ca-ENTER Seal- Lock;

No. 204,226. Patented-May 252, 1 18.

bmfiimlilllllllll WITNB ATTORNEYS.

N-PiTERS, PHOTO-LITHOMAF'HER. WASNINGI'ON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. HUNTER, OF MONOTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

lM PROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,226, dated May 28, 1878 application filed April 19, 1878.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. HUNTER, of Moncton, in the Province of New Brunswick and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Seal-Lock, of which the following is a specification:

1n the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved seal-lock as applied to the hasp of a car-door. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are, respectively, a top view of the look, a top view with cover removed, and a top view with cover and interior spring removed. Fig. 5 is a top view of the tin seal used in connection with the lock; and Fig. 6, a vertical longitudinal section of the lock and tin seal. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section exhibiting the band-springs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

I This invention has reference to an improved seal-lock for railroad-cars, mail bags, and other purposes, which may be applied to the hasps in a quick and convenient manner, so as to lock the same reliably and securely, without any chance of being tampered with, the seallock being readily used again after the tin seal is cut and the lock opened.

The invention consists of a lock composed of a square block, with central wedge-shaped portion, having retaining-pins at the central and highest point for attaching a curved bandspring that extends over lateral end slots at the.bottom of the look, so as to bite on the tin seal when the ends of the same are passed through the corresponding top slots and the bottom slots.

Referring to the drawing, A represents my improved seal-lock, which is attached by a chain to the car, mail-hag, or other object.

The seallock is constructed of an oblong solid block or piece, B, of suitable metal, that is recessed at the center portion in such a manner as to form a wedge-shaped portion, that extends at suitable inclinationfrom the central or highest part to two bottom slots, to, near the ends of the same. The top and end plates of the lock are riveted or otherwise secured to the main piece, so as to close the same in reliable manner.

The wedge-shaped center portion of the main piece is provided with one or two projecting center-pins, a at its apex or highest point, to which a curved band-spring, B, is

placed by means of suitable perforations, the outer ends of the band-springs extending over the bottom slots of the solid main piece. The top plate of the lock is provided with lateral slots e near the ends, that correspond to the bottom slots.

A tin seal, 0, is passed through the hasp and through the top and bottom slots of the seal-lock, the interior springs admitting the convenient passage of the strap ends through the bottom slots of the seal-lock until they project at the bottom of the same. The spring prevents, then, the withdrawing of the tin seal by the wedge or biting action of the spring ends on the tin seal. f

In place of one spring, two or more springs may be used, which are then separated by small partition-blocks, the connecting center-- pins that retain the springs being then passed through the partition-blocks. The cumulative action of several springs secures the positive locking of the tin seal, so that any possibility of opening the seal is prevented, and a reliable seal-lock of simple construction, that may be permanently used on the cars, mail-bags, or other objects, obtained. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A seal-lock consisting of a casing with interior recessed middle portion and top and bottom end slots, and of one or more interior band-springs, and of a connecting tin seal or strap passed through the slots, substantially as shown and described. 1

2. In a seal-lock, a lock or casing having a solid main piece, with centrally-recessed and wedge-shaped portion and slots near the ends and one or more retaining pin or pins at the center, in combination with one or more interior curved band-springs, retained on the pins and extending over the bottom slots, and with a tin seal passed through the slots and retained by the biting-action of the bandsprings, substantially as specified.

FREDERICK GEORGE HUNTER. Witnesses:

' H. ATKINSON,

W. JNo. ROBERT. 

